I hope this letter will be read by the concerned parties — the health ministry of Japan and representatives of the government.

I was a trainee from the first batch under the economic partnership system for caregivers. I arrived in Japan in May 2009 and studied Japanese (though the kanji is really difficult). But setting my goal to pass the exam, I did my best because I really want a caregiver license.

Unfortunately, I failed on my first try by only five points. I availed myself of the one-year extension to give it another try on the exam. I was still not lucky and missed by only four points. I was so depressed. That was my last extension, and it made me think, what does the government really want us to do?

After all the training and Japanese knowledge, I was forced to leave Japan since that was my last extension. I felt so sad and I didn't want to leave.

My point is that the government has been spending money on our training and some study materials, but why are they so strict on the time limit? Why not let us stay and work until we are able to pass the licensing exam? Why are they accepting new batches of EPA trainees every year and have to start again from scratch? Those of us who were already there only needed a little more study to pass the exam.

I have a friend whose husband is of Japanese descent. She married the guy, then after a year when she received a visa she divorced him. And look at her now, legally staying in Japan — it's that easy. Compare her situation with that of caregivers who work so hard to pass the exam, but after failing twice don't any choice but to leave the country. If Japan is really in need of caregivers, why is the government making it so hard for us?

Even though currently I am working in a Japanese company here in the Philippines with a salary almost the same as what I was receiving in Japan, given the chance I still want to go back and hopefully work as a caregiver in spite of the difficulty of the job. I feel that there's a certain happiness in my heart that my current job is not able to give me.

Hopefully the Japanese government will think of a more productive program and will allow caregivers to stay longer and not just serve as a temporary solution to fill the shortage of caregivers.

EVAN CLAIRE SALAZAR

OLONGAPO, PHILIPPINES

The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.